So here we are, now what?

It's been a while since I've written. I think this is because it's been a while since I've slowed down. So today I was able to slow down and do some thinking, and here's what I thought. I was sitting on my front porch this afternoon, and as I was enjoying the beautiful southern Florida afternoon I realized that there is unmistakeable evidence of a purposeful creation all around me. I'm preparing to teach my students about some of the faults of evolution in our next science chapter, and I've been thinking a lot about why evolution is wrong. As I sat there this afternoon, I noticed that I was refuting evolution with every breath I took. I gazed at the blue sky scattered with clouds and thought about how purposeful this creation is. This planet is perfectly suited for us. We are able to breath it's oxygen and drink it's water and eat it's nutrients. Every breath I took proved to me that I was no product of accident. Then I thought about how we as humans horribly dishonor this creator by ignoring Him, destroying His earth, and hating His creatures. Romans 1:20-22 says, "For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools." I don't want to be a fool and live my life on this earth ignoring the unmistakeable realities of God that surround me. I want to know this Creator, and through this Creator I want to find my purpose. Is it possible to know this Creator? Yes, Jesus was God in the flesh. John 1 talks about how Jesus was the Word, and the Word was God. The Word means the expression of God, the very picture of God. In Colossians 1:15-17 it says, "Christ (Jesus) is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,[a] 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together." Jesus is our picture of God. He is the one who connects us to God, and Jesus is the meaning of life. I know it may seem weird to think that a person is the meaning to life, but in John 14:6 it reads, "Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." Jesus is the way to the Father! Our Creator sees us as His children! It's so awesome to know that in this big, confusing existence there is my Creator who is my Father, and my Father has opened up life, truth, and hope for me. How do I know that I belong to the Father? I know because He has poured out His Spirit of love and truth into my heart. And eventhough this world can be a tough and lonely place sometimes, the Holy Spirit is my constant Comforter and Guide through it all. Romans 8:14-18 says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children[a] of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.[b] Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”[c] 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later." Yes, there is hope of a glorious existance beyond this temporary existance we have now on earth. God desires His children to live with Him in paradise for eternity. Again in Romans 5:5 it reads, "And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." So, no. Life is not an accident. Life is a gift. Life is not pointless. Life is full of grand purpose. Life should not be lonely. Life should be spent enjoying the love of God who made it all.